It’s said that “hindsight is 20/20”. While this may be applied to many areas of life, if you are considering a medical career or are currently a medical student, learning what professionals already working in the field would do differently may not just save you time, but also valuable financial resources.

Read on to learn what practicing chiropractic physician, Alex Tauberg, a successful 2016 National University alumnus, has to say about the things he would go back and change if he could while he was still a student working towards becoming a chiropractic physician.

Today’s young athletes work harder, longer hours, and push through injury more than ever before. Traveling sports start at a younger age, which usually means more practices per week and tournaments multiple weekends per month. Tee ball starts by age 4. Travel baseball and football begins by age 8. Kids committing to one sport, also called specializing, is seen by middle school.

Often times, lay people are shocked to hear what the education of a chiropractic physician looks like. The rigor, length, detail, and difficulty of education is expected for medical doctors, but often a surprise to many when discussing chiropractic education.

Like medical doctors, chiropractic physicians are responsible for the health of their patients. This important responsibility is just one of several reasons why the path to becoming a chiropractic physician must be rigorous and demanding.

Are you considering becoming a chiropractic physician? We, at National University of Health Sciences, know that preparing for a career in medicine can be challenging. That is why we offer many opportunities for prospective students to visit the campus and learn about our programs.

Chiropractic medicine is a form of integrative medicine that focuses on natural, non-invasive, evidence-informed practices of disease prevention and health promotion. Through a broad scope of assessment and treatment modalities such as manipulation, functional medicine, physical rehabilitation therapy, targeted nutritional and botanical treatment, acupuncture, and diet/lifestyle management, chiropractic medicine can effectively treat a wide range of conditions and improve overall health.

Over the last few decades, chiropractic medicine has become more widely accepted by the conventional medical community. Unfortunately, there are still a number of myths and misconceptions that affect the public’s view of chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care is one of many forms of natural health care, specifically a non-invasive, drug-free alternative that can help patients find relief from a variety of musculoskeletal issues. Athletes in particular, can greatly benefit from chiropractic treatments both before and after they practice and perform.

Professional sports leagues including Major League Baseball (MLB) along with the National Football League (NFL) have recognized these benefits for years, with most teams employing their own official sports chiropractor. National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) graduates Marc Legere, DC, and Randy Cybulski, DC, (who himself was an NFL player earlier) have also treated these professional athletes in private practice.

If you are considering pursuing a path towards becoming a chiropractic physician, National University’s Florida site offers a unique campus visit experience. Hands-on, interactive activities and real-life scenarios are designed to let you experience life as a National University student.

In a world where technology and business are growing, so are chronic disease, obesity, depression, and anxiety. Nowadays, people are searching for ways to improve their quality of life. With interest in fitness and wellness on the rise, the mainstream media has helped spread awareness of how complementary and alternative medicine can be utilized to improve health.

Deciding to become chiropractic physician is a big decision — choosing where to earn your degree can be an even bigger decision when you consider the important questions listed below.

Many people are unaware that there are distinct differences in philosophy among chiropractic schools. Some schools focus exclusively on adjusting as the primary treatment for all patient conditions, adhering to a more traditional “chiropractic philosophy.” While others teach students to use modern medical science, evidence-based treatments, medical diagnostics and laboratory tests, and never hesitate to refer or co-manage a case with an MD or other health care practitioners, when required. 

Like many other students earning their doctor of chiropractic degree, I grew up going to a chiropractic physician. My mother, who had been in a car accident, experienced an amazing recovery and took our family to the same chiropractic physician from that time forward.